Telenovelas

Guests: Carolina Acosta-Alzuru

The Spanish-language soap opera, or telenovela, has long been a vital part of popular in culture in the Western Hemisphere. These serial dramas depict the lives and circumstances of those living in Latin America, as well as immigrants to the US. Many have evolved to tell the tales of modern day experiences including the effects that the drug war has on the families involved. Some have been adapted for American audiences, including “Ugly Betty” and “Jane the Virgin,” and recently, NBC debuted a sitcom homage to the genres, aptly named “Telenovela,” which stars Eva Longoria. Today, we take a look at the history, influence and evolution of one of television’s most ubiquitous formats. We’re joined by one of the country’s leading experts on telenovelas CAROLINA ACOSTA-ALZURU, associate professor at the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia.